Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar Menu

  • Appetizers
  • Salads
  • Pasta Dishes
  • Chicken Dishes
  • Veal Dishes
  • Steaks And Chops
  • Seafood Dishes
  • Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar

  • Appetizers
  • Salads
  • Pasta Dishes
  • Chicken Dishes
  • Veal Dishes
  • Steaks And Chops
  • Seafood Dishes
  • Desserts

Visit below restaurant in Tinley Park for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Tinley Park for healthy meals suggestion.

  • Cynthia K.

    Our house salad with house dressing was worth the trip its self!!! Then on to Veal Parmigiana and fettuccine Alfredo took on a whole new type of delicious!! The wait staff was attentive and square on with napkins and refills!!

    (4)
  • Rick B.

    Found another good one...went here after Saturday Mass around 6:30 pm and found a crowd that certainly agreed. Since the wait was an hour but there were stools at the bar...that's where we had dinner and I'm glad we didn't wait. Service (Meghan) at the wide and roomy bar was right on...we ordered and received nice warm bread while we waited with our half carafe of Chianti. One of us had the stuffed shells ($9.95 and the four shells filled with cheese were very good) and a house salad (nice and simple, just a bunch of plain greens and a couple of tomatoes)...I had chicken vesuvio (a gigantic pile of chicken with sliced potatoes on top swimming in an excellent garlic sauce...order the full ($15.50) and you have two meals...order the half ($8.50) and you have a nice sized dinner). Most entrees are very large and you bring home leftovers. For dessert it was classic tiramisu...and it was just the way we like it. It didn't taste too alcoholy...some tiramisu taste just booze and this one was much better. You could taste the different layers all through the dessert. The restaurant is big and roomy...one large room with a little meeting room off to one side. Big bar area also. The place is a family restaurant and as such the kiddies are all over the place...not really a romantic spot but a good adventure for the fam. Noisy and raucous with good food, we will be back.

    (4)
  • Annette N.

    So, so place. They do get the customers in and out. Maybe a bit rushed ... Our entrees came after our appetizer, but before our salad... We asked them to please bring our salads and then return with the entrees- not sure if they just kept them warm or remade them... No one explained. 1/2 order of fried calamari "ok" Tanquery martini in a lowball? Must be the Italian way? And no olives? Table water in low balls- felt like a child. Gattos garbage salad is good. Angel hair broccoli with garlic and oil-no!! So strong it is sickening. Carbonara-safe Veal Marsala-sub par. Cannoli-best part of the meal. So,so...,

    (2)
  • Traycee C.

    Great food, great service and great patio.

    (4)
  • Tam P.

    Good basic Italian food. It's reliable and straightforward with good service and reasonable prices.

    (4)
  • Amanda B.

    Love it here! I can't believe that it took me so long to try this place. I really want to try the chicken but the vodka sauce is so good that I've gotten pasta both times I've been here. Cute atmosphere. Great mozzarella sticks.

    (5)
  • Jimmy K.

    Been here 3 times now and food is very good with larger than average portion. It is a little different ordering from the menu on the wall instead on your table but you get used to it. Try something different! I usually start to fill up on the bread/olive oil/parm before the meal. The chicken vesuvio is excellent but order the boneless version. I like to substiture garlicy angel hair instead of the potatoes. Love it. They are very open to customizing your meal. Standard service with a smile but not very often or bothersome. I'll keep going there for sure as long as they keep the food tasting good.

    (4)
  • Tara T.

    When you're going out to eat, you expect a warm atmosphere to be eating in and good food is always welcome. Gattos restaurant served not only this to me but a heaping side of hospitality! The staff pays very close attention to their customers and if you ask too many questions they don't act like you're bothering them. But that's not all folks! The food is delicious. If you want a simple classic, order the Mac and cheese, but I would certainly come back for the chicken vesuvio! The potatoes are roasted perfectly, and the chicken is super moist. All in all it's a beautiful dish! I recommend Gattos when you're craving delicious Italian cuisine for a reasonable price!

    (5)
  • Melissa B.

    I have a few friends that love this place. I just don't get it. I've always found the food to be bland and something I could make at home. I've also never been a fan of the layout of the room. I can't really put my finger on it. It's just loud and feels cold. The service is usually friendly. There are always a ton of families here with screaming children. Just something to think about because like I said it's already loud in here. I would stick with very basic dishes if you come here. I'd recommend going to one of the other better options in the area first though.

    (2)
  • Lola J.

    I would give 3 1/2 stars for the entrees and 2 for the dessert. i had the tortellini alfredo and it was pretty good. There was nothing special about the presentation, but the flavor was there. Someone I was with had the vodka rigatoni. I really liked the vodka sauce when I tried it. She had a meatball on the side that was just average. Another person in attendance had the cavatelli with the regular marinara. The sauce was definitely nothing to write home about. It was the least liked out of all the dishes. i'm sure there is a comparable jar brand out there. Despite telling our waitress we wanted dessert she left to take an order at a different table, then helping another and disappearing altogether before we could get her attention. Maybe she didn't hear us or misunderstood? Either way it was odd. We ended up with the spumoni and cannoli. On a previous occasion I've also had the tiramisu. All were average. Nothing stood out as being exceptionally good and in the future I'd just skip dessert and not waste the money. Overall, the restaurant is okay if you can get past the menu on a chalkboard with no descriptions. It was a bit loud for the older folks in my group, though I was fine with the noise levels. Being a winter's night, I'm just glad I wasn't sitting at one of the tables by the door where it was freezing. I would go here again, but it wouldn't be my first choice and I won't be bragging about the food. But it was decent and a good meal.

    (3)
  • D H.

    I have to say, I had not been here in a very long time (10 years or more) and was invited here for lunch, but not eager to attend, as I didn't recall the food being at all appealing. I was wrong. I had the cheese ravioli with a red marinara sauce and it was quite tasty. The marinara sauce was a good blend of spices though I will say the garlic bread was rather unappealing to look at and just okay to eat--there was no butter on it so it really wasn't good to look at--it looked like toast. We also had a variety of desserts and salads and pastas (9 women) and everyone seemed pleased with their selections.

    (4)
  • Greg D.

    I have been coming here for years and I cannot believe I have not reviewed this place yet. I came here during the week with my eldest daughter for lunch. We ordered a half order of calamari. It was huge for 7.75. I then went with the grilled chicken and broccoli with a side of red sauce for 11.75. Again the portions were huge and I took half of it home for dinner. My daughter had the penne with the vodka sauce. I cant remember the price. She liked it very much. They give you bread to start that was warm and good. They offer coupons through the local schools in the neighborhood. We cant wait to go back.

    (4)
  • Mel P.

    We visit this place at least once a week. Always get our food in a timely manner and at a responsible price. The staff is wonderful! I've tried manny things on the menu but my favorite is the rigatoni vodka. Give this place a try its a nice Itialian restaurant that has something for everyone.

    (5)
  • Marie C.

    Really good service and love the fried calamari and baked clams. The entrees however are not great. All of the pasta dishes I have tried usually come out some what cold and with no visual appeal. I come here for a few glasses of wine and some apps with friends but I don't really venture farther than that anymore. I will note that anytime there are younger guests with us they absolutely rave about the Mac and cheese!

    (3)
  • Meredith K.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE Gattos! My family has been going here for many years. The staff are always friendly and always have new specials to inform us while making my mouth salivate. The bread is always fresh and with the cheese and oil, it's perfection in your mouth (be careful not to fill up on bread). I couldn't pick a favorite because everything is delicious. From the pasta to the chicken and veal, I can never decide! I am partial to the chicken marsala and pasta with broccoli. I love the owner and would highly recommend to anyone in the area or even their New Lenox location :)

    (5)
  • Kiki Z.

    First and last time going here. Although the staff was friendly, they seemed extremely unorganized and unsure of what table ordered what and who they still needed to wait on. Like others have written in their reviews, the dishes were very basic and something we could have made at home.

    (2)
  • Wade L.

    Want a taste of Gattos? Chew on a bulb of garlic, because thats all you taste in their food.

    (1)
  • Erin K.

    I was here for a party, so I guess my experience would be a little different than usual but the food was good! The server was sweet and attentive to our large group. We had a selection of salads as well as hot dishes...the pasta being my favorite but my chicken was tasty as well! If I was in the area, I'd definitely give them a try for dinner!

    (4)
  • Brian D.

    I've been going to Gattos for years and still have yet to be disappointed! Between the phenomenal service and delicious food I'm not quite sure what I'm more impressed with more... Keep up the good work!!

    (5)
  • Danny F.

    Wow ,very disappointing food was awful. Veal pannoli was nothing but nuts and sour lemon juice over watered noddles. Waitress never wrote down order, forgot our order but was quick to correct, after that it was all down hill didn't check on us had to wave her down to get refills and bread. After I interrupted her social ga

    (1)
  • Len S.

    This was my third visit this year - all were for family events so the food was served family style. For family style (mass) servings I think the food is quite good. The Italian salad has a tasty dressing. The red sauce on the pasta is outstanding. The roast beef is tender enough to cut with your fork. I cannot comment on price as I was a guest and the meals were paid for by another family member. The service was excellent. Drinks to order were taken and served promptly.

    (4)
  • Lisa T.

    We went here as a last resort. After stopping or passing by at least 10 other places in the area with long waits. Got here. Two tables filled. No one to seat us till the waitress waved us over. So we are the third filled table in the whole place. It still took a few minutes for her to take our order. We ordered the special. They were out. Then we ordered some bread. Out. Huh? What Italian place ever runs out of bread??? There's a wal mart 1 mile away that is 24 hours. Go get some bread if you are running low! on the upside. The food was great. The cooks should start their own place. It appears poorly managed. No wonder it was empty. I'd try another location. This is a neighborhood place. It reminds me of an Italian corner bakery. Mediocre. The food and prices were decent though.

    (3)
  • Katie D.

    Gatto's is a wonderful place with excellent Italian food and friendly service. Whenever I have friends visit from out of town, I take them there. My favorite dishes are the carbonara, cheese ravioli, or the garbage salad (dressing is amazing!). Sauces can be substituted in various dishes, and there are always new specials. Desserts are fantastic too. The prices are appropriate for the generous portion size, and you can order smaller half portions of most dishes if a regular size is too big.

    (5)
  • Sarah R.

    This place is mediocre, at best. You walk in to the manager/hostess, leaning against the wall. Rather than a decent greeting, she just raises her eyebrows like we're wasting her precious lounging time. We are proceeded to be sat right on top of a service station. To the point where I couldn't move my arms without hitting the bus cart. Ew. We ask to be moved & oh, what an inconvenience that must have been. A simple spaghetti dish should not take 45 minutes to make it to our table, but it did. And I've tasted better sauce out of a jar. All these rave reviews? The Italian restaurant scene in the suburbs must be seriously lacking if this is the "go to" place.

    (1)
  • John K.

    Good food, good prices, mediocre atmosphere.

    (4)
  • Mel B.

    I started by loving this place ! I loved eating the calamari with the balsamic drizzle. I used to start by getting the calamari , then moved on to my entree. Unfortunately things have changed since the new one opened in Orland park. I will give it one last chance , but I gotta say I ordered the lemon chicken and I thought it was so gross I couldn't eat it. Maybe the chef was having a bad night?I will give it one last chance because it's near my house . Let's see what happens.

    (3)
  • Krystle P.

    Very good food and service, especially for getting a big crowd from graduations. I came with a friend and thought it would be a wait to be taken care of... But surprisingly they moved very quickly. They consistently checked on us and got our order out quickly. It was very nice. The only thing is... The menus are on a chalkboard on the walls and its hard to see what is all listed without having to look for another chalkboard that is further away or asking your server. I get how it's creative... But still don't care for that. Otherwise, everything was great!!

    (4)
  • Maggie R.

    Brought all of our kids and their significant others for a post Christmas gathering. Called ahead for seating for 12 and they were able to accommodate us in the back room which offered some nice privacy. Service was prompt- we had Meghan - and everyone enjoyed their food including some hard to please young adults. Portion sizes were good. Parking was tight so we left our cars near the bank.

    (4)
  • Vin D.

    Gave Gattos a try tonight and we are glad we did. We had the lasagna, stuffed shells and sausage and peppers - all delicious. Even the spaghetti was gobbled up by the little one. They were fairly busy, but we were seated quickly and food arrived in a reasonable time. We will be back for sure!

    (4)
  • don g.

    Use to really LOVE GATTOS....but now it is terrible....the food is bland and the service is non-existant....no one eve watch Gordon Ramsey on kitchen nightmares of what NOT to do......I really hope the owners hire new staffand use some fresh !!!!

    (1)
  • Mindy O.

    I've been here a few times. Everyone I know loves this place so I always want to give it another try. Not again after tonight. The service was truly awful. Only thing good was the calamari. Even the salad , though fresh, came with a very bland house dressing. The bread is sub par. My chicken Marsala was huge but unexciting. It I ever return I will stick to the appetizer's only.

    (2)
  • Wendy B.

    was here the other night. the food was good. it was ample, and hot. nothing extraordinary, but good. However, the service was ridiculous. the server was inattentive and down right rude. I have been here many times and enjoyed the atmosphere and food. I am not sure if she was having a bad night, or if that is just the way she is, but having been a waitress I have little patience with rude service. It is a shame that this experience was tainted with lousy service but it left a poor taste in my mouth. Hope the server gets a much needed attitude adjustment. I will go again but rest assured I will make sure she is not my server.

    (2)
  • Dave K.

    I've been going to Gattos for years and will continue to do so. They have the best Italian sausage I've ever had. Never had a negative experience here.

    (5)
  • Karen B.

    My family and I love Gatto's! The service is always great, and the food is, too! I highly recommend the Chicken Milano- It's not always on the menu, but you can ask for it! Chicken breast with mushrooms, red pepper, and spinach served over angel hair pasta- to die for!

    (5)
  • Taffy G.

    I came here for lunch, and then came back with my husband for dinner!! I had a the grilled chicken sandwich for lunch, and the porcini ravioli with Alfredo sauce for dinner. My husband had the spaghetti & sausage... he loved the sausage sooo much he asked for another piece!!! Fresh, warm bread served. the only thing I was disappointed in, is that soup or salad does NOT come with a dinner... it is extra. You are already paying $10 for spaghetti, how about throwing in the soup or salad??! Great tiramisu and spumoni!!

    (4)
  • Kelly N.

    For starters who doesn't have a menu with descriptions of what the dish is. I ended up ordering the fettucini Alfredo with chicken. Not only was it over priced, it was by far the worst fettucini Alfredo I have ever had. It had no taste what so ever. On top of that we came with a group of thirty people, they seated us at different tables and only had one waiter. She wasn't friendly and when you're with an older group you need to be able to explain your menu she could not. I would never come here again.

    (1)
  • Mike R.

    For a busy Friday evening,service was excellent, without reservations we were seated within the thirty minutes stated. The house salad came family style and portion for three was plenty for our party of four. We dined with a couple who frequent Gatto's as we have not been there in quite some time. I was delightfully impressed and would recommend. The portions are priced right, the food was served piping hot. Overall, it was a good experience.

    (3)
  • Terra L.

    Lunch time! If you read my reviews, you will realize that one of my favorite menu items is calamari. I read reviews that said this place had great calamari. I ordered 1/2 order of calamari and grilled cheese with bacon. Even for a lunch menu, the portion sizes are large. The calamari was great and even had leftovers to throw in the oven later that evening and it was still good! That alone impressed me. A lot of bacon in the cheesy grilled cheese.

    (4)
  • Adam M.

    I have been here multiple times and I must say I really enjoy eating at Gatto's. It is a casual middle of the road Italian joint. Yes it's not super authentic but it's good food for a very reasonable price. Their marinara sauce is great, so I have always been pleased with any red sauce pasta dish I have ordered. Another thing Gatto's does well is fried calamari; such a great way to start off your meals, soooo good!. On the other hand, they probably have the most bland meatballs ever. Talk about lacking flavor. I love meatballs with my pasta dishes but when I come to Gatto's I don't waste my time.

    (3)
  • Rachel T.

    Gatto's service is always great and it's food is incredible. AND it's Italian so I am a critic. The food was terrific, calamari standard, the pasta dishes are great all around, I have had eggplant there that was amazing and this time I had the Whitefish and it was fantastic. Portions are huge, it's almost like family style but the dishes are actually meant for one. I had enough Whitefish and vegetables/potatoes for two meals so I got lucky and enjoyed it twice. Good selection of beverages and every time I eat there the servers are very friendly and extremely nice. Been there many times and haven't had a bad experience yet, it's always been great!

    (5)
  • Liz R.

    Large, casual place. I was greeted at the door quickly and led to a table in the greeter's/waitress's section. She was more than willing to give suggestions without being pushy. They bring a carafe of ice water to your table right away, along with warm bread and butter. The bread was average, but I liked how I could top it with butter or dip it in olive oil (oil and plate on the table). I was able to try the amazing calamari - the half order size is plenty to share with another person, or with more people if you're trying a variety of apps. Tender squid, rings and tentacles, in a light, crispy, well-seasoned batter. Served with cocktail sauce, which was interesting (I'd perhaps ask for marinara or Ranch too). For my entree I chose the Porcini Ravioli. Four large raviolis, plumped full of chopped mushrooms, greens and cheese, covered in Alfredo sauce. Now, I'm not always a fan of Alfredo, as it can be too thick, too gritty, too bland, too too! Gatto's was smooth, perfectly thin and flavorful. Salty, but I love salt. I did not feel uncomfortable dining at a table alone here, but if you're still new to eating alone there is also a large bar where you can be less conspicuous.

    (4)
  • Krista C.

    Solid food. Not great but not bad. We went for lunch and I had chicken salad. Chicken surprisingly fresh tasting and cooked well. Husbands Italian sausage and peppers dish looked tasty. Daughter had noodles--sauce was a bit weak

    (4)
  • Cameron P.

    Amanda our waitress was great knew the menu to a tee. Great personality !!! Food came out portions were enormous don't fill up on appetizers !!! Only 2 of 8 people in my party finished their food. Everyone was happy food was good came out right and in a timely fashion. Good job Gatto's 4 Stars!!!!

    (4)
  • Laura P.

    Gatto's is our go to spot for after or during work liquid breaks. Or as we say going out for 'food'. There are numerous things about Gatto's that make it wonderful. Full bar with my new favorite whiskey Red Stag. Chicken Vesuvio that is to die for. The chicken is perfect, absolutely perfect. Really, perfect. Mussels are absolutely perfect. Softshell crab is really good. As you can see, the food is excellent. Service is good, sometimes if you are just drinking at a table and not ordering food they will leave you a little while. Maybe that is a good thing so you don't get too hammered. But, you always get free bread so that helps. I heart Gatto's.

    (4)
  • Kathy K.

    Great food, nice atmosphere, friendly staff. The Rigatoni Vodka, baked with mozzarella, was fabulous!

    (5)
  • Jerry M.

    just a "nice place" with pretty good food very tasty and a quite place for the most park have enjoyed gattos for a number of years, great service and they really appreciate your business cant wait to try the new place in orland park give this a easy 5 stars

    (5)
  • J M.

    I could go to Gatto's every day. I've honestly never tried anything on the menu that I didn't like. However, I wasn't really impressed with their bruschetta (To be fair, I am a bit of a bruschetta snob.) The wait staff is always friendly and the service is usually extremely fast.

    (5)
  • Anna J.

    Love the food here. The Pasta Carbonara is my favorite- I'm addicted to it! We often order the calamari- it's almost perfect. Not too chewy, lightly battered, and the sauce is perfectly sweet and slightly sour. My son always orders the Fettucini Alfredo- apparently, he's addicted to that dish! We order take out more often than dine-in. The serving sizes are perfect for next-day lunch leftovers- and they make really good leftovers! I've never been disappointed by any dish!

    (5)
  • Wayne B.

    We were looking for a place to eat around 9:30 pm on a weeknight. This was one of the few places, other than fast food, that was open. When we walked in the bar was empty, but in the dining room there was a small group at one of the tables...The restaurant has a very open floor plan with decor that was simple and attractive. We sat at one of the tables and discovered that there where no menus but, instead, on the walls in the dining area were HUGE chalk-board-like signs that listed all the menu items. The menu listings were simple and non-descriptive, but the waitress answered all our questions about what each dish contained. Everything on the menu is a la carte, so soup and salad is additional. A server brought us a basket of crusty Italian bread and plates that we could pour olive oil and balsamic vinegar (our waitress brought us vinegar when we asked for it). Our waitress had taken our order and we were enjoying our bread when our dining experience went south...We were seated near the bar and one of the workers had just started to mop up the bar floor. Not a big deal...EXCEPT the cleaning liquid he was using had a very strong, unpleasant smell! (Now an aside for what we expect for a satisfying dining experience....We like a pleasant decor, and friendly, attentive wait staff and part of the dining experience are the appetizing aromas of the foods which lead to eager anticipation of what will be served. And, of course, when the food is served the mouthwatering aromas of the food you are about to enjoy!) The smell from the bar was strong and obnoxious...and the waitress was walking toward us with our food...We told the waitress that we had to move because of the smell from the bar. She told us that they were closing in 20-minutes so they were cleaning up! (Here's a thought...Wait to clean-up AFTER the patrons leave!) We moved to a table as from from the bar we could get but we never completely escaped from the smell. Even though the meat ravioli and marinara sauce were very tasty the smell from the bar spoiled what would have been a very nice dining experience...So, sorry Gatto's, but the best I could give you were two stars...You may want to ask your staff in the future to start cleaning AFTER your patrons have left the building!

    (2)
  • Brian B.

    One of the few places around any more that will still serve veal ... MmmMmm good!

    (4)
  • Alexa E.

    I've been here several times for dinner, as well as special occasions. The food is delicious, made to order, and..... yum-tastic!! The atmosphere is gorgeous as well, very open and airy. The menu is written on large chalkboards all around the restaurant, which is eco-friendly (whether or not that's the intention, I'm unsure) and I'm all for that! I've also called ahead an order of their tiramisu and had no problems at all. The food, flippin' fantastic!

    (5)
  • Anthony F.

    Food is good and the service is good as well. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and enjoyed it. I have had better meatballs elsewhere though. I would recommend going there.

    (3)
  • A S.

    My husband and I recently went to Gatto's and found it to be ok. Nothing bad, but nothing that impressive either. The menus provided lacked any description of the items, so my husband and I had to look on their website to find the descriptions of the menu items. I understand why the chalkboard versions of the menu items do not have descriptions, but the ones served to the table should. The food was simple but good. Based on the other yelp recommendations we had a small order of calamari which was more then enough for the two of us. The dipping sauce was not that exciting but the actual calamari was good. For our main entrees we had the chicken milano and the chicken parmigiana. Both dishes were large in size and tasted decent. For the price we expected to be a little more wowed by the flavor (the sauces seemed kind of bland). The service was only ok. Not really that friendly and the waitress took our remaining calamari without asking if we were done or if we wanted it boxed to go. We will probably not be in a rush to comeback to Gatto's but we could see the appeal the others may have. If you are wanting basic italian without all the frills this is it. It is family friendly and is overall decent tasting food.

    (3)
  • John Y.

    If you do not mind waiting a half an hour to get an appetizer and another half an hour to get your food then this place is right for you. The waitress did not acknowledge once that the food was taking a long time. Never once said your welcome when I said thank you. I am patient but unfortunately the person I went with was not. We payed our bill and left before we got our food. An hour wait with one refill on my soda when I got my appetizer was too long for me too. A TRUE ITALIAN ESTABLISHMENT IS COURTEOUS. THESE PEOPLE WERE NOT TO ME. IF YOU DECIDE TO GO I HOPE YOU ARE TREATED BETTER.

    (1)
  • Marisa V.

    Hosted my soon to be sister in law's bridal shower at Gatto's today. We made arrangement for garbage salad, bruchetta and angel hair pasta with chicken and red sauce. Wow..what an amazing meal! Everyone in the party was so happy and left full. Our server Kathy was wonderful, she was so attentive to our needs and just an all around great person to work with. I would recommend Gatto's for large functions!! And the food is so good!!! :) I would definitely go back when Iam home next.

    (5)
  • Claire L.

    I love this place! I go here with my family all the time, they always have great, fast service and there food is always fantastic!!

    (5)
  • carol h.

    We like the atmosphere and the staff was super nice. The bartender especially. Totally recommends the sangria! I ordered the salmon but asked them to put bruschetta on top of it and it was very good. My husband ordered the baked mostacholli and it was ok. The meatball on side was ok as well. We did go off all the other reviews and ordered the small order of Calamari and it was just as expected, delicious!!! I didn't care for the menu on the chalkboard but the waitress will help you out and recommend dishes.

    (4)
  • Darren O.

    Was very disappointed in Gatto's, my first visit will be my last. Here's a quick rundown of why: 1. Service was very poor 2. Food was average at best 3. My wife and I both had upset stomachs immediately after 4. No paper menus This is at best an average Italian restaurant. There was absolutely nothing that made the food above average to me. They have their menus posted on chalk boards on the walls of the restaurant which I found very annoying. I don't have the best eye sight so I had to get up and try and read what they had to offer all while feeling very uncomfortable because the boards are right over where people are sitting. I am sure they're going for some atmosphere here but it set me off on a bad note from the very start. At least OFFER to give someone a paper menu for heaven's sake! We had the calamari for an appetizer along with some bruschetta. Both were passable, but I've had better of both. The calamari is served with marinara sauce that tasted like it came direct out of a can. For the entree I had the sausage and peppers and my wife had the orange roughy. Again, nothing was horrible about either of these dishes but neither one was anything above average food I'd expect to get out of a frozen meal. The sausages were not very tasty and the portion size was small. I had sausage and peppers at Barone's a couple weeks ago and theirs was ten times better in both quality and quantity that I received at Gatto's. The service was also lacking from the waitstaff. It seemed like they were fully stocked with busboys who were very helpful but the waitress disappeared for long periods of time, didn't refill drinks and really to me made the cardinal sin a server could make and didn't even OFFER dessert. We were celebrating my wife's birthday so one of the people we were with told the waitress and they brought a small sliver of chocolate cake for her, which was a very nice gesture which was really offset by the fact that nobody else at the table was even offered dessert. Sure, we could have made it a point to say "hey, get us something as well" but by that point I was ready to head out of Dodge. We live about 10 minutes from the restaurant and about 5 minutes into the drive home I told my wife I was starting not to feel well. She said she felt the same way. To put this in the nicest way possible we're both lucky we only had another 5 minutes before we were home. Needless to say from top to bottom we didn't enjoy the experience at Gatto's. The service was just plain bad, the food was at best average and at worst made us both sick. To be fair the other couple we were with didn't experience any ill effects of the meal so we'll leave the benefit of the doubt there. Overall not a place I see myself going back to any time soon or ever.

    (1)
  • Allison V.

    This is the place to go for calamari! I usually got here when I visit my dad. Order a 1/2 appetizer order of calamari and you will not go wrong. You get the rings and the squiggly ones. I like lemon, but it comes with a sauce that I can only explain as ketchup and bbq sauce...it is a little weird. The garbage salad is good too. Beer selection could be better. I will go back.

    (4)
  • Rose D.

    One of my favorite spots for Italian outside of the Taylor Street area in Chicago. Was there this past Saturday, arriving around 7:00 p.m. without a reservation. We sipped a glass of wine at the bar during our short wait (+/- 15 minutes). We had calamari as our appetizer and it was as good as always...never heavily breaded or greasy as I've had elsewhere. Maybe someday I'll try the red sauce, but I prefer mine with the juice of the lemon which is also on the platter. The small is a perfect size for 2. I had the shrimp & broccoli linguine w/olive oil and garlic sauce -- 6 large shrimp and lots of broccoli (which was crisp but hot). My partner ordered the perch limone which he said was cooked to perfection. We topped it off with the only dessert I've ever ordered there -- tiramisu. It's never too heavy and the flavor is always light without being bland. As usual the server was wonderful...don't think I've ever had poor serv ice here. It can be a little loud when full (and when a playoff football game is on TV), but it's a nice casual atmosphere with great Italian food.

    (4)
  • John T.

    ENORMOUS portions and absolutely divine calamari. I remember this place being a bit difficult to find, but with GPS and MapQuest, that should not be a problem any longer. I remember them doing the family style dinners for one set price, and that was the way to go. If that is still an option, be sure and try it! The garbage salad was very good, the calamari was amazing, the drinks were good, and the service was great. I ate so much, that I actually got nauseous.

    (4)
  • Carrie D.

    Always have consistently good food and good service. They have very resonable prices and good size portions. If no one can make a decision on dinner, Gatto's is my go to place. Plus its right by the train station.

    (3)
  • Janet K.

    I have been here multiple times for both lunch and dinner. Food is good, portions are huge - I always have leftovers! They have been very accommodating with a large lunch table of colleagues some of whom had to have a separate check for credit card. Bar area is nice for waiting. They pour a good drink and have some decent wines by the glass. There are many Italian restaurants closer to my home but Gattos is worth the extra drive for me!

    (4)
  • Nick M.

    My journey to the deep deep south aka Tinley Park. Hanging out with a bunch of South side Chicagoan's who I enjoy very much. One of their staples is Gatto's, an Italian restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Very much a family place but has tables for two. For how large the building is and with it being completely open it's not that loud in there. They have a large beautiful bar and a large patio as well. See how many times I say large well maybe now you get that it's huge. At first I was thinking this was going to be your typical family style eatery; ordering from a chalk board, food kind of bland, and service being terrible because of large groups. Quite the opposite, the food was very good, the service was more then great (dealing with 11 in our group). The food was very fresh and flavor-able. I recommend the garbage salad, calamari, and the Alfredo sauce is spot on. Then the bill came................so cheap, it was not even $15 a person and some of us were drinking some vino. The night goes on part 2 above.

    (4)
  • Robert C.

    Been there twice hoping for a turnaround. Food is still bland with no passion. Gatto's is no more Italian cuisine than Chipotle is Mexican cuisine. I got a glimpse of kitchen, and I only saw Mexican cooks. The menu is on a chalk board--not very professional.

    (2)
  • Cass P.

    Two words.....Grillled Calimari!!!! Grilled to perfection in a very light balsamic type sauce, texture was perfect. Here for valentines day, very, very busy but as usual service was spot on! Our pasta dishes were also superb! Chicken Pinola, not sure on spelling but excellent chx dish over angel hair w pine nuts and slight lemon flavor, delish!!!

    (5)
  • Bradley R.

    So we have gone to Gattos on several occasions. Although I have enjoyed several of the items on the menu I have found that the chicken carmine is my favorite. I have eaten at almost every Italian restaurant in the area and for the quality and price you can not beat Gattos. The service has always been perfect and i have no complaints at all. We also had a get together there with some work friends for Christmas a few years back. We had a table of about 20 people on a busy Friday night and our server and the kitchen did not miss a beat.

    (4)
  • Terry P.

    I have eaten at the New Lenox location and this was my first time at the Tinely Park one. The atmosphere is much better, but I would tell the owners to tone down the lighting. But then again you probably would have a hard time reading the menu from a chalk board, which I am not a fan of. But, the food was good, the service was very good, and the price was very reasonable. I would go to the Tinely Park location again even though I am much closer to the New Lenox one.

    (4)
  • Christina P.

    Great simple Italian food with great wine selection. The servers are all great and I have become a regular! The alfredo sauce is amazing along with their appetizers!

    (5)
  • M. T.

    We frequent this restaurant often. The servers can rush you at times, but most of the time they are excellent. After a 1 hour and 45 minute wait at Buco di Beppo's in Orland Park, we walked out and hit our go-to Italian restaurant Gatto's. Got seated quickly, excellent food, very good service, consistent quality, couldn't ask for more.

    (4)
  • Doug F.

    I thought this place was just decent. We went on Friday night and there was a pretty good size crowd and I wanted a pasta fix. First off the menus are handwritten on the wall. We got the 1/2 order of calamari it was good. Then I got the rigatoni vodka with a meatball while the pasta was good the meatball was just a little weird to me I just thought the texture of it was a bit spounge not sure what it was but I just left it to the side. My wife got the stuffed shells which were ok but bland. It seemed like the entrees came out so fast like they have everything already on the plate and bam.there it is. The server was friendly but the quick kitchen time and the bland food we probably won't be returning here.

    (2)
  • maggie R.

    I think it has great food the servers come to you right away kind people everyone loves it i usually get there spaghetti or there ravioli an my dad gets sea food usually! Its great and a hit you have to try it and love it!

    (4)
  • Kathryn D.

    All the food we had here was excellent. I recommend the calmari as an appetizer. A friend of mine was served the biggest piece of lasgana I could imagine, it was like a brick, and he loved it. My boyfriend enjoyed the veal parmesean, and I would say they have the best pasta carbonara I've ever tasted. The only entree we weren't super impressed with was the pork chops with a dry rub, which our server raved about so maybe it was just a bad night for that. We all had plenty of leftovers, so even though it was a little pricey it was worth the money. I will definitely be going back again!

    (4)
  • Greg L.

    What I love most about Gatto's is the family atmosphere, consistency, and the value. Although we have some really terrific Italian restaurants to choose from nearby, this one hits the grand slam when it comes to value. I highly recommend the garbage salad. Wow. What a great combination and dressing. We get it every time. I also highly recommend the calamari appetizer or mussels appetizer (it is also a terrific entree option and among the best I have ever had). Entrees that are really a cut above are the Rotolo, Stuffed Shells, Bracciole when it is on special, Veal, and any of the regular fish specials. Love a really good and simple red sauce? Then absolutely try theirs which I get a real craving for at least once a month. Special note: If you want to have a real experience, when they are in season, go here for the Soft Shell Crabs over linguine. Unbelievable and probably the best I have ever had anywhere. The clincher is that they are 1/2 the price of what I pay downtown. In fact, they are so good, that we call ahead, reserve 3 orders, and split them between the two of us. What a hidden secret! In a hurry, call ahead and get a carry out. They are great at accomodating you, and will treat you like family! All in all, this is a terrific Italian value, with great consistency.

    (4)
  • Wayne L.

    It was just OK. Service was nice, food just your average Italian food, nothing to innovating. I had the mussels and they were very gritty not washed properly. Atmosphere is nice can get a little loud if you where looking for something more romantic.

    (3)
  • James B.

    The calamari is always cooked to perfection. Tried many of the specials and have never been disappointed. In summary, for great italian food, like Nana used to make, go to Gatto's. P.S. I had the pistachio gellato for dessert for the first time today, what a perfect finish to a great meal.

    (5)
  • Ann E.

    I want so badly to love this place, but the only way I can describe it is "downhill." I first visited Gatto's 6 years ago, and remember having an enjoyable meal. I continued to go a few times, and remember a time when we went while I was expecting our first child and the food didn't really strike me as appetizing, but at that time, I blamed my pregnancy. Most recently, at our suggestion, we went with a group of friends, and I found myself apologizing for having chosen this restaurant. The restaurant space is very plesant - homey yet still a little contemporary. Perfect for a low-key Italian restaurant! The service was adequate - our waitress did not hover, but there were many times she should have checked on us but was not to be found (i.e. after we placed our order, it was a bit of a wait, and we weren't offered refills on drinks or bread). But she was very nice and knew the menu well. You really need a server who knows the menu well, because the menu is on the wall and there aren't any descriptions - not at all a problem if you're familiar with Italian food, but its good to know going into your dinner there. You may want to look at the menu on their website before going. The food was so disappointing. First, the list of specials was overwhelming! When I asked what the specials were, we heard a list of about 7 or 8 dishes. What is so special about these dishes if you have to have so many of them? And how am I supposed to remember them? Friends of mine ordered the mussels appetizer, and we were pretty sure there were bad mussels on their plate - they did not smell fresh. Not only is this unappetizing, but it is unsafe. For the entree, I ordered the chicken marsala off of the menu, figuring it was a fairly routine Italian dish, a safe order. It looked so sad - it was a pile of pasta with the sauce/meat/canned mushrooms dumped on top. There was no finesse, not even garnish to dress it up. There was nothing on the plate that made me think the cook takes pride in what goes out of the kitchen. And the sauce wasn't nearly viscous enough to stick to the pasta. And the pasta was most definitely not cooked in the sauce. With the over-saturated market of Italian restaurants in the south suburbs, Gattos will have to step it up to get my recommendation or my business.

    (2)
  • Mr G.

    This is a sub-par Italian food restaurant. First off unless you got great eye sight good luck reading the menu. It is written on a chalk board at the end of the dining room. The pasta wasn't all the good tasting and I think it is hard to screw up Italian. I don't see the draw to this place when there are so many much better options in the area. Then again the herd keeps heading to the golden arches.

    (2)
  • TJ P.

    Went to this restaurant based on reviews from Yelp! Was better than what was written I would have to say. We ordered an order of Calamari, 2 White Fish Francese and Chicken Vesuvio, and Cannoli. All of which were very good and even more delicious for the price which was $70 and had a couple of adult beverages. Service was excellent and was everything you would expect from a LOCAL neighborhood restaurant. Definitely going back.

    (5)
  • Johnny B.

    Get extra sauce with the briciole. It makes all the difference! De-lish!

    (4)
  • Kathleen A.

    Gatto's is definitely good Italian and a very reasonable price. I went there for the first time and the service was fast and friendly. My boyfriend and I ordered the calamari which someone had recommended on yelp. Great portion size and quality. I ordered the shrimp alfredo and I was quite pleased at my selection, the sauce was so creamy. In comparison to bucca or olive garden there's no comparison at all. My bf ordered the chicken parmigiana, aside from the penne pasta that came with it (I told him he probably would've liked it better if they used linguine, fettucine, or angel hair), it was also good. This will be our itallian go-to place from now on.

    (4)
  • Marilyn B.

    This is the best calamari you can buy! The portions are very generous and consistently delicious. The pasta portions are very reasonably priced and gigantic. It is enough for two maybe three meals, for less than 8 dollars!!! I live in the city and am willing to drive. This place is a winner!

    (5)
  • Nicole V.

    The last time my brother and his fiance' came to town the whole family went to Gatto's for dinner. The setting is very open, with large tables and a big bar area. There are wine bottles and other Italian products lined up all around and the ceiling is exposed giving it a airy and open feel. Usually they have a big crowd during the dinner hour and you get a good vibe from families and groups of friends enjoying a night out together. Don't be surprised when you don't get a menu....all the dishes are written on chalk boards which are hung all around the dining room. Much of the pasta you can mix and match to create what you want. We usually always start with the calamari which gives a huge portion of lightly fried goodness. I have tried a number of their pastas and have yet to be disappointed (mussels in red sauce are especially good). The wine is served in stemless glasses and they offer a nice selection. Overall, this is a great option for hearty Italian in the burbs.

    (4)
  • Jeff P.

    Best Italian food in the south suburbs. Amazing calamari.

    (5)
  • Maria P.

    Great Italian food in the South Suburbs! HUGE menu, difficult to decide what to get it all looked soooo good. And not just your typical spaghetti's and lasagna. All the dishes were significant portions, service was great, as well as the atmosphere. This will likely become a regular place for us.

    (5)
  • Jim V.

    great fish fresh salmon on friday price is right food & great try its great

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar

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